Can someone please tell me definitively the long term effects of air pollution?

It seems this is a subject where opinions differ. What is air pollution, does it include smog only, other particles (dust/dirt only or other particles?), vehicles emissions (is this smog?), CO2 (is this vehicle emissions?)

I live in a congested area of Western Los Angeles *right* near the freeway. What is the ultimate impact of living in this area? My wife and I are considering kids, we have lived here 6 years and have 2 more years left (total eight years). Will there be inevitable damage to our health, to our fetus? Is 8 years long enough to do damage? How do I test for damage? Lungs, blood, etc. What can I do to limit impacts? Air purifiers? Do they work at all for these situations like being close to a freeway? thanks

Well, I think the best thing i can say is to relate to you what a doctor said as she was dying with lung cancer. " I am here to let the public know that I have never lived smokers nor, have I ever smoked, in my life! As a physician, dying from lung cancer, I can assure you that this is a direct result of pollution that I have lived in much of my life! I wanted to make this statement so that people will know why lung cancer is taking my life." "To make them aware of the air they breathe and what the effects of this can be."

Now, I think she said it all! This woman worked in a hospital where most of her time was spent in areas where the air is being filtered, for the patients sake! So, I think we can take her at her word and know that we are all breathing poison air! Regardless!!

it destroys our ozone layer, and is bad to inhale.

First of all, any pollution affects your health. You are breathing in polluted air, which in turn can get you real sick. A good example is the fire fighters and police of 9/11. Some are dying due to the air pollution at world trade. This is worst for kids as any health problems when they are young affects them for the rest of their life. Air purifiers help alot but not 100%. The closer you are to the cause of pollution, the worst it is.